The year 2015 was one that gifted me with many wonderful things. My husband and I were able to take a trip to Europe, we welcomed a new grandchild to our family, we completed some projects around the house, and we were thrilled to have some dear friends from Germany visit us.

As I sit here and ponder 2016, I wonder what it holds in store for me. For my family. For my business.

I stopped making “New Year’s Resolutions” many, many years ago. I always felt like a failure if I didn’t achieve everything on my list. The solution seemed to be….. don’t make New Year’s Resolutions.

I eventually learned that avoidance was not a good solution. Setting realistic, achievable goals was.

I recently read something (Colin Smith) that states what I have been trying to implement over the past few years.

A goal needs 3 things:

1. A clear objective that is measurable.
2. The goal needs to be achievable. If it’s really big, break it down to smaller goals (milestones).
3. A hard date that you want to achieve the goal by, AKA deadline.

Most importantly, write it down! Put it in a place where you can see it and it will magically motivate you. If you don’t write it down, you won’t do it. It’s a private contact between you and the thing that you want to accomplish.

I add to this list an accountability partner. Someone you can trust to be your cheerleader when you feel down, to keep you on task if you ask for help, and to just… be there.

I just looked at my Goal List for 2015. I accomplished 3 of my 5 goals. Do I feel like a failure? No. I see that the 2 goals I did not complete were too large. I hadn’t broken them down into small-enough, achievable goals. So they will go on my 2016 list. Revised. Smaller. Achievable.

Are you ready to chart your course in 2016?  There’s still time to set goals, write them down, grab an accountability partner, and enter 2016 with determination and direction.

I’ll check in with you December 31, 2016 and let you know how I did.

I really love the layout that Norma, a member of my Creative Team, created using Chart Your Course.

Whether you are mapping out your vacation, or mapping out your life, making the right choices for YOU is critical to your general happiness and well-being.  Chart Your Course includes all you need to tell your story:  where you’ve been, choices you’ve made, what you’ve overcome, or where you want to go.

Chart your 2016 progress with Chart Your Course. It is available at:

SnickerdoodleDesigns     The Digichick    TheStudio

And if you join in The Digichick Use-It-All Challenge you can pick up a free coordinating Chart Your Course Mini-kit!

Click the image below to go to the Use-It-All Challenge!